Valeriana’s lower lip wobbled, and I thought she might break out into sobs, so I squeezed her hand gently, offering her my strength, and she managed to hold herself together.
King Lywynn spread his hands toward the table. “Please, join us. You must be hungry.”
Silver, Cylea, and Kryn were already there, large platters of food and goblets of wine planted in front of them. They looked comfortable, as if it wasn’t the first time they shared a table with the King of the Summer Court. There were other people seated there, which Jeondar politely introduced, but which I quickly forgot, especially when a servant deposited a silver plate heaped with food in front of me.
Valeriana sat by my side, her feet dangling, her small frame dwarfed by the adult-sized wooden chair. She tore into her food as soon as it arrived, making me wonder how long she’d gone without a proper meal. I noticed there was no meat on her plate, only vegetables and fruit, and a dish that was made with tiny eggs cut in half to reveal their bright orange centers. She ate those with relish, making sure to scoop enough sauce with each bite.
I went first for the wine and nearly moaned in pleasure at its fruity taste. The wine we’d been drinking on the road had been good, but this was absolutely exquisite. The food was also marvelous. Pork that melted in my mouth and was perfectly seasoned with figs and thyme. Soft toasted vegetables, some unknown to me, accompanied by the crunch of walnuts and the tang of a rich wine-based sauce. Barley and mushrooms garnished with herbs I didn’t recognize, and warm bread rolls with butter melting at their center.
Jeondar sat across from me after having removed his weapons. He looked happy, something that was betrayed by a glint in his eyes, even when he wasn’t smiling.
“I’ve ordered my favorite dessert for you.” He winked at Valeriana. “I think you’ll love it. You too, Dani.”
I nodded in approval. “I’ve never been known for turning down any kind of dessert.”
“Good to hear.” I glanced around the table as I speared a piece of meat. “Where are the prince and Arabis?” I asked again.
“They’ve likely… gone to bed already.”
I frowned, thinking of how Kalyll and Arabis always disappeared when the sun went down. Where had they gone? My mind was whirling with wild conjectures when I sensed the conversation taking a serious turn. The somber words drew my attention.
“The gates only remain closed at night,” the king was saying, an elbow on the table as he used his forefinger to fiddle with a thumb ring. “It’s been many, many years since we’ve had to do that.” It didn’t look as if the decision pleased him. “And now this,” his dark gaze drifted to Valeriana, “what you said they’ve done to a dryad clan on our land.” He pressed his fist to his mouth, anger simmering in his expression. “We shall send guards to protect those who live in Mid Crosswood.” He nodded to himself, the announcement seeming to give him a modicum of peace.
“But your lands go far and wide, my lord,” Silver said, “and there aren’t enough guards to protect everyone.”
“Perhaps there is somethingyoucan do to help,” the king responded with enough bite in his voice that everyone at the table seemed to tense.
“He is, father. He is,” Jeondar assured him.
The king’s gaze drifted to Kryn, and the whole interaction reminded me that the Winter and Fall Courts—to which Silver and Kryn respectively belonged—aligned with the Unseelie Court, something that King Lywynn seemed to hold against them.
Jeondar threw a pleading look across the table, as if begging his father to see things differently. The king played with his ring again, then gave a slight nod to his son and steered the conversation to lighter topics.
“The Summer Solstice Ball is tomorrow night. It shall be a grand event. My queen has exhausted herself in preparation, just the reason she’s already in bed, resting.”
One of Jeondar’s eyebrows went up at the mention of the queen, which made me realize he hadn’t asked about her when we first arrived, and that it must mean said queen was probably not his mother. If I’d been away, and I’d just returned from a long trip, I would surely ask about my mother. It was also possible that, if she was his mother, they’d had a falling out. I figured I would find out sooner or later.
When we were done with our main courses, a pretty Fae girl with curly red hair down to her waist came around, carrying small porcelain plates topped with miniature tarts.
The tarts had a crumbly bottom and were topped with candied strawberries and cream whipped to a point. Valeriana and I wasted no time tearing into them. Jeondar watched closely for our reaction and nodded proudly when we both hummed in appreciation.
“That did not disappoint,” I said.
The king and his other guests retired after finishing their dinner, leaving only our group behind. They shared a large decanter of wine between them and guzzled it like parched camels.
Silver hiccupped and swayed on his chair.
“You’re such a lightweight,” Kryn said.
He and Cylea appeared perfectly sober despite the rate at which they kept tipping entire glasses down their throats.
“I’d better stop.” Silver pushed his glass away even as Cylea refilled it.
“Don’t be such a bore.” Cylea pushed a lock of blue hair behind her pointed ear. “We can sleep as late as we want to tomorrow.”
Silver shook his head and glanced toward the door in the corner, the one through which the servants had been coming in and out.
“I have a date with a pretty redhead.” He rose to his feet, his chair scraping the stone floor. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head as if to clear it, then headed out, weaving as if he wouldn’t pass a breathalyzer test.